Paddle-wheel.



vIS

I NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

EDWARD ABRAHAM LEviNs, or VANCOUVER, CANADA, AssIcNoR oF ONE-THIRD To DANIEL JOSEPH MCPHALEN AND JOHNYMCMEEKIN,

OF SAME PLACE.

PADDLE-WH EEL.

s'inc'I-'FICATION rorming part of Letters Patent No. 651,194, dated June 5, 1900. Application filed November 6,1899. Serial No. 736,016. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARDABRAHAM LE VINS, a citizen of the Dominion of Canada, residing at Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, Canada, have invented a new and useful Paddle-Wheel, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in paddle-wheel propellers for steam and other vessels; and it particularly relates to improvements in that class known as stern-wheelers usually employed for the navigationof rivers and lakes; and my object is to reduce the vibration in Wheels of this class by arranging the paddles in zigzag form across the wheel and on a plane not parallel with the shaft thereof, so that each tier of the paddles or resistanceblades will not engage the water at the same time and cause'an uneven strain on the wheel and a vibration to that part of the craft, as is the case with the paddle-wheels now in use. I attain this object by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side View of my wheel. 2 is an end view of the same, and Figs. 3 and fl are enlarged details showing the paddles and the means of fastening.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts in the views.

The frame of my wheel, constituted by the axle 10, the hubs l1, and the radiating arms 12, is constructed in the same manner as the paddle-wheels now in common use, except that each set of the arms or spokes 12 are pitched spirally around in relation to the other set of arms, so that the tie-braces 13 are not parallel with the axle, but are arranged parallel to each other around near the periphery of the wheel, and now comes the important part of my invention. As better shown by the enlarged detail, Fig. 3, placed between the respective sets of arms 12 and with their opposite ends secured thereto and their centers to the tie-braces 13 by stirrup-bolts are V- shaped paddle-blades 14, these being set in rows right across the wheel on the same angle as the tie-braces 13.

From the foregoing it is seen that my wheel will cause the same displacement as the or- Flg.

dinary wheel, having the straight blades set at intervals around the wheel but by reason of the blades being arranged in V shape and pitched spirally or at an angle from the plane of the axle the strain will be regular and the vibration will be reduced to a minimum, Whereas in the old style as each paddle strikes the water it causes a distinct upward resistance and transmits a severe jar to the structural support.

At the opposite ends of the wheel and on the outer sides of the arms 12 and covering the space the width of the paddles lei are annular plates 16, which form buckets between the deflected sections of the paddles and such plates. This provides against any lost energy by allowing the water to be deflected laterally', as would be the case if the ends were left open, and they also provide means of strength to the wheel.

I have in some respects specifically described the construction of my new wheel; but I do not wish to be understood as confining myself strictly to such construction, as in practice changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventionsuch, for instance, of reducing the number of V-shaped blades by having the angle in themA more obtuse and also by adding brackets within the angle of the blade, as indicated by 15 in Fig. 3. These brackets 15 would, perhaps, offer more resistance to the water and cause the wheel to run more smoothly.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to be protected in by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a paddle-wheel having arms 12 arranged in-sets radiating from an axle, the respective arms in each set being arranged at unequal points and thrown spirally around the axle, tie-braces 13 securing the respective arms of each set together, and V-shaped paddles arranged betweenthe sets of arms in series at the same angle as the tie-braces, substantially as specied.

2. In a wheel of the class described, rows of paddles arranged zigzag from end to end thereof on a plane dissimilar to the plane of the axle of the same, as and for the purposes set forth.

3. Ona Wheel for the propulsion of vessels, and brackets 15 fixed on the inner opposite for the navigation of inland Waters, radial sides of the V-shaped paddles, as specified.

arms 12 xedly mounted in sets on an axle v suchsetsofarmsbeingpitchedslightlyaround EDWARD ABRAHAM LEVINS 5 the axle; tie-braces 13 securing the arms to- W'itnesses:

gether near their outer ends, V-shaped pad- ROWLAND BRITTAIN,

dles fixed between the respective sets of arms, EDITH G. MAGKENROT. 

